The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-01-01
THE EUCALYPTUS.
Imported as an Ornament, II Has Iscer
Turned to Practical Use by Americans,

Imported as an Ornament, 1t Has lseen
Turned to Practical Use by Americans.
When mail steamship line was es-
tablished between San Francisco and
the Australasian islands, enterprising
persons sought to transfer some of the
wild products of the latter region to the
California soil. Ono thing attracted
the attention of the admirers of nature,
and that was the eucalyptus tree, which
formed ninety-nine per cent of tho
forest vegetation of Australia. This tree
grows very rapidly in that country,
with straight stem reaching common
ly two hundred and fifty feet in height,
and having circumference of seventy
feet at the base. 1t was believed that
as this tree produced Il great mass of
leaves it could be utilized for shade
as well as ornamentation, if the soil of
the Pacific States should be found suit
able 10 its growth. Tho experiment
was tried, and slips of the Australian
forest giant transferred TO California,
where they soon took root and thrived
in the prolific soil of the Golden State.
The tree was found to furnish honey to
bees, and in this way alone the for
cigncr was soon ascertained to be a
valuable addition to the honey-giving
products of that now extensive honey
producing State.
1t was ascertained that the eucalyp-
tus globulus, or blue gum. could be
further utilized us II remedy for marsh
and other fcvers. So valuable, indeed,
is it that il will destroy and feed upon
Z bn M IL ,f SI,x
help to eradicate mosquitoes by de-
stroying the food on which they exist.
It's value by being officacious in such
fevers has given to tho tree among
many persons, especially the Spanish
Americans, the name of the ''fever
tree" and it is therefore somewhat re-
vered by the natives of Spanish Ameri-
can countries along the Pacific coast.
The tree produces an essential oil which
is valuable, and u resin like the resin of
cinchona. An extract made from tho
tree yields substance capable Of nou-
tralizing strong acids and forming crys-
talline salts. The leaves, dried and
powdered, have been found useful az u
medicine ior certain maladies. and ths
bark and wood have also been utilized
for the same purpose. But the discov-
cry of the most remarkable use to which
this tree can he put was tho result of an
accident u couple Of years ago. The
eucalyptus tree had fourishcd ON
California soil and had been
employed as an ornament and
shade tree in many Of the cities and
settlements along the Pacific coast. IL
will be REMEMBERED that for long timo
past the engineers all over the country
suffered from scale forming in their
boilers and from corrosion. About
couple Of years ago Mr.. George Downie,
the proprietor of Il Touring mill at
Salinas City, California, was in the
habit of filtering water In an old heater
in order TO free it az far rs possible
from the mineral qualities that formed
scale in his boiler. Chemical COM
pounds supposed to prevent the forna-
lion of scale had been used without
effect, and Mr.. Downie resorted To tho
iiite,ing of water as u partial
preventive, His process was to
run the water through the heat
er and let it drain through straw.
One day be happened To be out of
straw, but rs the leaves from one of tho
eucalyptus trees which stool near the
mill were handy he employed them in
stead. 70 Mr.. Downie's surprise the
formation OF scale in the boiler stopped